All posts by n8rngtd.top

Danny Ings would like to stay at Aston Villa to make a statement this season…

What’s the word?

That’s according to transfer insider Dean Jones, who has delivered an update on the future of the England striker, having been linked with a move away in recent weeks.

The 30-year-old has been the subject of interest from Premier League rivals Brighton and Hove Albion, with Football Insider also reporting back in April that the Villans’ hierarchy would be prepared to sell him for the right price.

“I’d say there’s still some uncertainty over Danny Ings’ future,” the Eurosport journalist told GIVEMESPORT this week.

“Unless a really tempting offer comes in for him, I think he would prefer to remain part of this project and prove that he’s capable of living up to the hype.”

Gerrard needs him

Villa boss Steven Gerrard will surely be delighted to learn that Ings is prepared to not only stay and fight for his place but also deliver on the hype of that £25m price tag.

It’s true that things haven’t gone to plan for the former Liverpool and Southampton forward since arriving at Villa Park. He scored seven goals and laid on a further six assists last season, though only eight of those goal contributions came under Gerrard.

On the south coast, Ings was more prolific, bagging 12 and 22 league goals during his final two seasons for the Saints and it’s this sort of form that the ex-Rangers boss needs to get out of him again.

If Gerrard can get the £18m-rated frontman firing that sort of form again, then Villa will have a very dangerous threat in attack indeed.

One particularly standout performance for the Villans back in May saw Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp laud Ings as “unbelievable”, whilst Independent journalist Karl Matchett once dubbed him a “goal machine.”

With Villa looking to improve on last season’s 14th-place finish, a fit and firing Ings could well be exactly what Gerrard needs to transform their fortunes on the pitch and this behind-the-scenes claim from Jones will surely leave the Liverpudlian absolutely delighted.

The 42-year-old should be able to count on the English striker this campaign.

AND in other news, Gerrard could land his very own Luis Suarez in Villa swoop for “gifted” £30m talent…

West Bromwich Albion have been handed a potential boost to their chances of securing a summer deal for Newcastle United youngster Elliot Anderson.

What’s the news?

Having been linked with a move to The Hawthorns on loan earlier this summer, the teenager recently has his say to NUFC TV (via Chronicle Live) about his immediate future.

He said: “I’d say for me, probably playing games is the most important thing, to be honest – carrying on my run that I have, and just trying to keep striving. Hopefully that’s here, or if it’s somewhere else on loan, I’ll be giving it my all.”

Now that the 19-year-old has shared his willingness to leave Tyneside on loan to a club where he’d be able to play regularly, this could give Albion the green light to launch a move to sign the attacking midfielder for the upcoming season.

A product of Newcastle’s youth system, the youngster has made 56 appearances for Newcastle across their senior and youth teams, scoring 23 goals and providing eight assists along the way.

Bruce needs him

The teenager completed his first loan move away from St James’ Park during the January transfer window as he saw out the second half of last season with Bristol Rovers in League Two.

Over 21 league appearances during this period, Anderson found the net eight times and supplied five assists as he helped the Pirates to win promotion, which shows why he’s seemingly so keen to start playing regularly again.

In his time at Bristol Rovers, the 19-year-old racked up 74 shots at goal, 32 crosses and 23 successful tackles, highlighting how dangerous he can be with his attacks and how useful he can be without the ball in terms of trying to win the ball back for his team.

Hailed as a “classy” player by renowned scout Graham Carr, Anderson now has 31 goals to his name across senior and youth football before hitting the age of 20.

Bearing in mind how the Baggies failed to score in 18 of their Championship games last season, having a player like the Newcastle starlet – who has played under Steve Bruce before – in the team could be just what they need to make the team a lot more clinical in front of goal.

If Bruce’s former club would be willing to sanction a loan move to West Brom for Anderson, this would be a smart move from the Baggies and give their manager what he needs for the team in their hopes of securing promotion back to the Premier League.

AND in other news – Deal agreed: West Brom closing in on “tenacious” £29k-p/w target, it would be a massive coup

A big Tottenham Hotspur claim has emerged on their plans to add to their defence in the summer transfer window… 

What’s the talk?

Transfer insider Dean Jones has claimed that Fabio Paratici may wait until January to bolster that area of the pitch as he weighs up what to do between now and the end of August.

When asked about the club’s pursuit of a centre-back, he told GIVEMESPORT: “I think that situation is on pause right now unless a great situation lands on their doorstep.

“I think it’s one they might look at in January after the World Cup. If they feel the first half of the season hasn’t gone their way or it’s left them short, that’s when I think they might look to get another one.”

Antonio Conte will be worried

This claim from Jones will surely leave the Italian head coach worried as the centre-back position is in need of strengthening ahead of the 2022/23 campaign.

[snack-amp-story url= “https://www.footballfancast.com/web-stories/read-the-latest-spurs-news-transfer-rumours-gossip-and-much-more-2″ title=”Read the latest Spurs news, transfer rumours and more!”]

In the Premier League last season, Japhet Tanganga and Joe Rodon ranked 21st and 23rd in the Spurs squad for average SofaScore ratings. They both averaged scores of 6.65 or lower and Conte rarely looked to them as they made 14 appearances between them in the top flight.

This suggests that the manager does not trust them with regular minutes on the pitch and their dismal ratings indicate that he is well within his right to make that decision.

Ben Davies, who is a left-back by trade, was the main option on the left side of the back three in the Premier League for Conte. He averaged a solid SofaScore rating of 6.88 and won 54% of his duels in the division as he made himself a reliable option.

Whilst he was not a major liability to the team, there is plenty of room for improvement in the left centre-back position. You only have to look at Christian Romero and the impact he made to see how much Spurs could benefit from signing another central defender.

The Argentine international averaged a sublime rating of 7.15 in the top-flight and won 62% of his individual duels as he delivered quality displays on a regular basis for the club.

This is why Conte will be worried by the lack of urgency in the pursuit of a new centre-back as it is a position that is in need of reinforcement ahead of a gruelling Premier League and Champions League campaign.

AND in other news: “Now likely…”: Kilpatrick reveals Spurs transfer update, supporters will be buzzing

London Evening Standard journalist Alex Young has dropped a transfer update involving West Ham United and Manchester City’s Oleksandr Zinchenko.

The lowdown

Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta wants to add Zinchenko to his ranks this summer, and they appear to be leading the race.

Arteta may have an advantage in the race because he used to work as an assistant to Pep Guardiola at City. Indeed, he has already been able to lure striker Gabriel Jesus from The Etihad to The Emirates.

According to Fabrizio Romano, Arsenal have reached a verbal agreement over a £30m transfer fee, but it doesn’t seem to be finalised yet.

There is still a ‘key step’ for the Gunners to complete – agreeing on a salary and the length of a deal – and that means West Ham have time to act.

The latest

Young writes that, along with Arsenal, the Irons are ‘also admirers’ of the Ukrainian.

And like the north London outfit, they’re ‘offering’ him more first-team minutes than he currently gets at City, which is his main reason for potentially moving.

The verdict

There’s a compelling case for West Ham to swoop in and match the £30m City have accepted for Zinchenko.

That would then mean it was effectively down to the player to choose his next destination.

Zinchenko can operate as a left-back and a central midfielder, but he’d been competing with the likes of Kieran Tierney, Granit Xhaka, Martin Odegaard and Fabio Vieira at Arsenal.

There may be a clearer path into the side at the London Stadium, with incumbent left-back Aaron Cresswell now 32 years old and beyond his theoretical peak.

Similar in profile to Liverpool’s Andrew Robertson, the Ukraine international has been dubbed an ‘incredible’ player by Guardiola, racking up countless trophies during his time at City.

The time is now for David Moyes’ side to escalate their interest.

Aston Villa’s activity in the transfer market has gone quiet in recent weeks, though that could soon change…

What’s the word?

According to Birmingham Mail reporter Ashley Preece, the Midlands outfit could sign one or two more players before the end of the window on September 1st.

Speaking in a recent Q&A with supporters, the ever-reliable journalist said:

“I’d still expect one or two [new signings]. A few of the group will head out either on loan or transfer and squad will need replenishing.”

Lange not done yet

Villa have so far made two fresh additions to Steven Gerrard’s squad, signing Boubacar Kamara on a free transfer from Marseille and quite the coup in Diego Carlos from Sevilla.

Loan moves for Philippe Coutinho and Robin Olsen have also been made permanent.

Where sporting director Johan Lange needs to bolster next remains to be seen, though there are some glaring holes in the squad, such as finding a suitable backup to Lucas Digne, whilst Gerrard will be short on centre-backs at the start of the season due to injuries to Kortney Hause and Ezri Konsa.

Further up the pitch, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see another striker signed, though it’s more likely that the club add depth to the midfield with the futures of several fringe players up in the air, including Morgan Sanson, and breakthrough academy gem Carney Chukwuemeka.

After taking over from Dean Smith in early November, the Liverpool legend guided the Villans to a mediocre 14th place, so he will be looking for vast improvements on that heading into the new season.

The arrivals of Kamara and Carlos certainly add quality to the squad and given Preece’s exciting claim above, we can surely expect more through the door at Villa Park.

Names such as Porto playmaker Otavio and Lille talisman Jonathan David have been linked in recent weeks, only adding to the excitement.

That latest update should leave many supporters around B6 absolutely buzzing, with less than a month to go until the 2022/23 campaign gets underway.

AND in other news, Villa plotting move for “phenomenal” £35m talent, imagine him & Coutinho…

Wolverhampton Wanderers winger Adama Traore has issued a transfer teaser, as a move to Barcelona still remains on the cards.

What’s the word?

That is according to a report from BirminghamLive who claim that the Spain international has teased supporters over a potential transfer, with Wolves said to be in a bid to resolve his future this summer.

As of yet, Barcelona have not given any indication as to whether they will be taking up their £25m option to buy, with the option believed to be expiring imminently, as per the report.

Although Wolves are expecting Traore to return to Compton Park for pre-season as things stand, his latest Instagram post has left supporters wondering whether his future could indeed be with Barcelona.

As per the same report, Traore re-posted a video of his Barcelona highlights on his Instagram story with the message: “I am coming.”

Supporters will be gutted

Wolves have missed the spark that the Spaniard of Malian descent offers on the wing and as a result, supporters will surely be gutted if he does end up back at Barca.

As loanee Francisco Trincao will have found out this season when looking at his numbers in comparison to the rest of the squad, no one can match Adama’s average of 7.0 dribbles per 90, with Trincao being Wolves’ closest player to that Premier League-leading tally, having managed an average of 3.0 dribbles per 90.

It’s clear that Adama wants to be a part of Xavi’s Barcelona squad, with his latest action suggesting that a move back to the Blaugrana is entirely possible.

And quite frankly, the 26-year-old functions better in a possession-based system.

Supporters will be gutted if Traore is to secure a permanent move away from the club but, a move to a side that commits more bodies forward in the attacking phase of the game suits the La Masia youth graduate well.

It will enable him with more opportunities to progress the ball and create chances – perhaps the strongest components of his game.

AND in other news: Wolves may “take a punt” on signing “decisive” £23.4m-rated ace, Lage would be buzzing

There has been a fresh update regarding Tottenham Hotspur’s interest in promising Englishman, Djed Spence…

What’s the word?

Speaking to GIVEMESPORT, transfer insider Dean Jones has revealed that negotiations are “ongoing” regarding a move for the 21-year-old – who spent last season on loan at Nottingham Forest –  although Middlesbrough’s valuation is proving something of a sticking point.

[snack-amp-story url= “https://www.footballfancast.com/web-stories/read-the-latest-spurs-news-transfer-rumours-gossip-much-more” title= “Read the latest Spurs news, transfer rumours and more!”]

He stated: “Talks are definitely ongoing. I think the big issue here is the fact that Nottingham Forest had a pre-agreed deal to sign Djed Spence at a price that was about £13million.

“Tottenham are being quoted a price that is higher than that because they didn’t already have an arrangement in place.”

The full-back – who is likely to cost in the region of £20m – has reportedly been a target for the north London side since March, with the player seemingly favouring a move to the club over a return to newly-promoted Forest.

Bye-Bye Emerson

It is remarkable how quickly a player’s career can change, with Spence having gone from being dubbed surplus to requirements at parent club Boro, to now being on the cusp of joining a Champions League level side in Spurs, all via a breakthrough temporary spell at the City Ground.

That standout 2021/22 campaign saw the £7.2m-rated gem play a vital role in Steve Cooper’s side securing a long-awaited return to the top-flight, scoring two goals and proving four assists in 42 Championship appearances, averaging an impressive 1.5 interceptions, 1.4 tackles and 1.1 clearances per game in that time.

It was his form in the club’s impressive FA Cup run that firmly thrust him into wider focus, however, playing an integral part of a side that saw off the likes of Arsenal and Leicester City en route to the last eight, where they were only narrowly defeated by eventual winners, Liverpool.

A player clearly on the rise, the £4.4k-per-week starlet has seemingly been earmarked by sporting director Fabio Paratici as the man to solve the Lilywhites’ wing-back woes this summer, with neither Matt Doherty nor Emerson Royal having truly convinced on the right flank under manager Antonio Conte.

The latter man, in particular, has struggled for consistency since his £25.8m switch from Barcelona last summer, scoring just one goal and providing only a solitary assist in 31 Premier League outings, with such a poor attacking output simply not up to scratch in what is such an important role in Conte’s 3-4-3 formation.

As pundit Alex McLeish has suggested, the former Real Betis man appears to be “struggling to cope with the pace” of the English top-flight, with his unconvincing displays thus far having heightened the need for a new recruit.

The Brazil international has been linked with an exit of late, with the arrival of Spence seemingly set to hasten his departure – a fact few of a Tottenham persuasion will shed any tears over.

AND in other news: Fabrizio Romano now reveals “very advanced” talks, Spurs supporters will be gutted

An update has emerged on Newcastle United and their interest in Gianluca Scamacca in the summer transfer window… 

What’s the talk?

According to Craig Hope of the Daily Mail, the Italian is one of the strikers PIF are plotting a swoop for as an alternative to Hugo Ekitike.

The club had agreed a £25m deal to sign the Stade Reims forward but that move has now been scuppered by demands from his agents, which has left the Magpies scouring the globe for other targets.

It is claimed that Newcastle are keen on Scamacca, who is reportedly set to be available for a fee in the region of €30m, and that they will need to convince him to make the switch as the ‘feeling’ is that he would prefer to remain in the Serie A.

Eddie Howe’s own Jamie Vardy

The Premier League has been host to some incredible goalscorers over the years; Alan Shearer, Wayne Rooney, Thierry Henry, and Sergio Aguero to name but a few.

One player who has put his name up alongside them, against all odds, is Leicester City legend Jamie Vardy. The former non-league attacker has scored 133 goals in 270 top-flight matches for the Foxes – winning one title along the way – and Newcastle can now land Howe his own version of him by signing Scamacca from Sassuolo.

FBref lists the players as being similar to each other based on their statistics over the past 365 days in Europe’s top five leagues.

In the Premier League last season, Vardy plundered 15 goals and two assists in 20 starts as he, once again, showcased his ability to find the back of the net on a consistent basis.

Scamacca, meanwhile, scored 16 goals and created three ‘big chances’ for his teammates in 25 starts for Sassuolo in Serie A. His former Italy U21 coach Luigi Di Biagio once claimed that he plays “on the edge” and this has seemingly allowed him to thrive in front of goal.

This shows that he has the quality to score goals on a regular basis at the top level, just like Vardy has over the years for Leicester. At the age of 23, he also has the potential to be Newcastle’s main man at the top end of the pitch for the next decade – given that the Englishman is still firing them in at the age of 35.

The Magpies would, therefore, be signing a player to contribute over the course of a number of seasons, rather than signing a short-term solution, which is why he would be a fantastic addition to the team.

AND in other news: Offer made: NUFC in talks to sign “world-class” 110-goal “magician”, Howe needs him

Sky Sports journalist Anthony Joseph has dropped a claim regarding the current situation surrounding reported Celtic transfer target Mohanad Jeahze.

What’s the talk?

Speaking to GIVEMESPORT, Joseph had this to say on the matter.

“They know what Jeahze would want. Jeahze is also quite keen on a move to Celtic, he wants to play in the Champions League obviously.

“But in terms of getting that deal done, if they know the player wants to come, they know he’s not going to command a great fee, they can sit on it for a bit. They know he’s not going to be snapped by others at the moment.”

Back in April, it was reported that the Hoops were looking to secure a reported £2m deal for the Hammarby left-back.

Great news for Celtic

Given the amount of time that has passed since then, it may have been suggested that this deal could be in danger of not happening.

However, with Joseph now providing some clarity on the situation and claiming that the player is keen on making a move to Parkhead, this should be great news for Ange Postecoglou and the club’s hopes of getting the deal done before next season starts.

Having spent his entire career in Sweden, the Iraq international has made 63 appearances for his current side, more than any other club he’s played for.

In those appearances, the 25-year-old has scored three goals and delivered 13 assists along the way, highlighting his attacking talent.

To further show how much of a capable full-back he is, in nine league games this season, Jeahze has made more crosses (46) and more interceptions (19) than any other player at Hammarby, in addition to winning 13 tackles as well.

Taking all of this into account, it’s easy to see why Celtic are after him, but it’s also a surprise to hear from Joseph that the player isn’t likely to be snapped up by any other clubs as things stand.

Moving forward, the best thing for all parties would be if the deal can be completed as soon as possible and the defender then has plenty of time to get settled into the club before the next campaign kicks off.

In other news: Celtic now in the mix to sign “massive” £1.35m-rated enforcer, he’s Ange’s next Bitton

Everton journalist Christopher Beesley has now revealed some big news involving Farhad Moshiri.

The Lowdown: Kenyon talks

As per The Telegraph, former Manchester United and Chelsea CEO Peter Kenyon is spearheading a group targeting a surprise takeover at Goodison Park, just days after the Iranian reaffirmed his commitment to the Merseyside club.

Initial talks have already taken place, although they are at a relatively early stage, as Moshiri has set his valuation of Everton in excess of £500m.

The Latest: Takeover on?

Taking to Twitter, Beesley has revealed that sources close to Moshiri are not discounting the possibility of the club being sold this summer.

He stated: “Sources close to Farhad Moshiri are refusing to rule out a potential sale of Everton.”

Expanding in his corresponding article for The Liverpool Echo, discussions have taken place over the possibility of a full-scale takeover, although the buyers would need to factor in the building cost of the new stadium at Bramley-Moore Dock.

[web_stories_embed url=”https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/web-stories/everton-news-7/” title=”Everton news!” poster=”” width=”360″ height=”600″ align=”none”]

The Verdict: Time to go

Given the concerns held over Everton’s recent financial losses, along with the expenditure on the new stadium, the summer presents the optimum time for Moshiri to sell up.

Last season was a shocking one to say the least for the club, with Frank Lampard’s team involved in a relegation battle; and while the former Derby County and Chelsea manager did well in the end to keep the Toffees in the Premier League, Moshiri’s strategy of routinely changing managers has been criticised in the past.

The businessman has not got his recruitment right in recent years either, with players like Yannick Bolasie and Davy Klaassen signing for big money who have now left the club, and other big-money signings like Alex Iwobi and Michael Keane struggling to make a real impact.

It is time for a fresh start at Everton, and bringing in new owners would help to kickstart that.

In other news, find out which 6 foot 1 ‘monster’ Everton are now eyeing here